Egypt military seizes 5 tons of Marijuana in South Sinai: Spox

CAIRO: The Egyptian military forces have seized five tons of Marijuana, widely known as banjo, aboard a boat near South Sinai’s Red Sea town of Al Tor, military spokesperson Mohamed Samir said in a statement Saturday.

No arrests have been made as the crews were not found on board of the boats, said Samir, adding that Legal procedures are being followed regarding the seizures and the case was referred to prosecutors for investigation.

Last week, the armed forces announced that around 1.9 tons of cannabis, in addition to other drugs, were confiscated in Sinai, while on April 27, the army announced it has seized and confiscated huge amounts of cannabis in a field in South Sinai.

A total of 8.5 percent of Egypt’s population, amounting to six million people, are addicted to drugs, according to a 2007 study issued by Egypt s National Council for Fighting and Treating Addiction.